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21st Indiana
Infantry / 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
21st Indiana Infantry
Officer Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, by
W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1865 View Entire
Book
21st Indiana Infantry
Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 4, by
W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 View Entire
Book
| Regimental History |
| Twenty-first Indiana Infantry (1st Indiana Heavy Artillery). —
Cols., James W. McMillan, John A. Keith, Benjamin F. Hayes; Lieut. -Cols., John A. Keith,
Benjamin F. Hayes, William Roy, James W. Connelly; Majs., Benjamin F. Hayes, William Roy,
James Grimsley, Edward McLaflin, John W. Day, James W. Connelly, Isaac C. Hendricks,
Samuel E. Armstrong. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis and was mustered in July
24, 1861. It left the state a week later for Baltimore where it remained until Feb. 19,
1863, participating in Gen. Lockwood's expedition to the eastern shore of Virginia. It
then moved for Newport News, from which place it sailed with Butler's expedition, and was
on the "Great Republic," off the mouth of the Southwest Pass during the
bombardments of Forts St. Philip and Jackson. A portion of the regiment landed in the rear
of St. Philip and waded across to the quarantine, the balance going up the Mississippi to
New Orleans, being the first of the army to land. It went into camp at Algiers, and
captured several steamers on Red river. The regiment was landed at Baton Rouge, June 1,
and in the battle at that place Aug. 5, it fought an entire brigade for three and one-half
hours, losing 126 men. At Des Allemands in September it killed 12 of Walters' Texas
Rangers and captured 30 prisoners. It was at Berwick bay from Oct., 1862, to Feb. 1863.
Part of the regiment was transferred to gunboats, being in engagements almost daily with
the iron-clad Cotton; accompanied Weitzel's advance up Bayou Teche, and was in the fight
at Comet's bridge and the destruction of the Cotton. Col. McMillan was appointed
brigadier-general on Nov. 29, and Lieut-Col. Keith was commissioned colonel. In Feb.,
1863, the regiment was transferred to heavy artillery service and designated 1st heavy
artillery, two additional companies being organized and attached later in the year. Part
of the regiment accompanied Gen. Banks up the Teche, participating in the second battle at
Fort Bisland. Later all but two companies moved to Port Hudson, and participated in the
siege for 42 days. One company was in a desperate fight at La Fourche crossing in June and
Co. F. was captured at Brashear City. In August three companies accompanied the Sabine
Pass expedition and were in the engagement at that point. The greater number of the
regiment reenlisted during the winter of 1863-4, and were given a furlough. Cos. G and H
bore an active part in the Red River expedition in 1864, and were stationed at different
points in the Department of the Gulf during the remainder of the year. Six batteries of
the 1st participated in the investment of Mobile and the reduction of Forts Morgan, Gaines
and Spanish Fort in April, 1865. At the close of active operations the batteries were
assigned to duty in Forts Morgan, Pickens and Barrancas, in the works at Baton Rouge, and
at other points of river defense, until mustered out Jan. 13, 1866. The original strength
was 1,363; gain by recruits, 1,332 ; reenlistments, 448; unassigned recruits, 696; total,
3,839. Loss by death, 392; desertion, 228; unaccounted for, 200. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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